Written Answers Monday 18 September 2006

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Community Outreach

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S2W-27528 by Duncan McNeil on 21 August 2006, in which parliamentary constituencies no community outreach events have been held since September 2004 nor are planned to be held by the end of December 2006.

Duncan McNeil: Since the Outreach Services Team was established in September 2004, 34 community outreach events involving MSPs have been held across the length and breadth of Scotland. Community outreach events have not been held in the following constituencies since September 2004, nor are any planned in these constituencies before the end of 2006: Aberdeen Central; Aberdeen North; Aberdeen South; Airdrie and Shotts; Ayr; Carrick; Cumnock and Doon Valley; Clydebank and Milngavie; Coatbridge and Chryston; Cumbernauld and Kilsyth; Cunninghame North; Cunninghame South; East Kilbride; East Lothian; Eastwood; Edinburgh Central; Edinburgh East and Musselburgh; Edinburgh North and Leith; Edinburgh South; Edinburgh West; Falkirk East; Falkirk West; Glasgow Baillieston; Glasgow Govan; Glasgow Kelvin; Glasgow Maryhill; Glasgow Pollok; Glasgow Rutherglen; Glasgow Shettleston; Glasgow Springburn; Greenock and Inverclyde; Hamilton North and Bellshill; Hamilton South; Kilmarnock and Loudoun; Linlithgow; Livingston; Midlothian; Moray; Motherwell and Wishaw; Orkney; Paisley North; Paisley South; Perth; Roxburgh and Berwickshire; Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, and West Renfrewshire.

  In addition to community outreach events, the Community Outreach Officer delivers requested talks and presentations to a wide variety of community associations, civic groups and voluntary and charity organisations. Like community outreach events, requested talks and presentations are delivered throughout Scotland. Since September 2004, 117 such talks were delivered.

  Members also organise a wide range of their own outreach activities across Scotland. The community outreach team currently facilitate this by offering advice on locations and outreach materials and presentations.